Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) has been in the eye of a storm lately. The defence public sector unit (PSU) is caught in a political crossfire over the Rafale deal while the apparent attempts to reopen the now-defunct HAL airport have not taken off. HAL’s waning prospects are perhaps salvaged only by the legacy of the 78-year-old organisation, which was responsible for putting Bengaluru — and India — on the global aerospace map.

On December 23, 1940, HAL was incorporated as Hindustan Aircraft Limited by industrialist Walchand Hirachand, who set out with an authorised capital of Rs 4 crore to manufacture aircraft in India.

William D Pawley of the Intercontinental Aircraft Corporation obtained machine tools and equipment from the United States. Mysuru maharaja Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV and his successor Jayachamaraja Wadiyar offered 700 acres of land free of cost while supplying water and electricity at a concessional rate.

According to former employee GS Jamadagni who has written a report about the PSU after the recent controversy, HAL believed in ‘Make In India’ even before the term became popular. “HAL started with an attractive order book position to deliver 30 Harlow Trainers, 48 Hawk Fighters and 74 Vultee Attack Bombers to be delivered in two years,” he said in the report.

Seven Seaplanes For Your Flight Of Fancy

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PM Modi Making A Splash Flying

20 Dec, 2017

Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a splash flying on a seaplane recently. While it was mistaken as the 'country's first seaplane flight' by some, these amphibious aircrafts are not a common sight on Indian waterfronts yet. However, seaplanes are popular leisure and strategic flight choices around the world.
Here are some of the admired amphibious flying machines:

1. Flying Boat Of The World War II

20 Dec, 2017

The Kawanishi H8K (codenamed Emily) was the fastest and most heavily armed Japanese flying boat to enter service during World War II. It was considered by Allied pilots to be the hardest aircraft to shoot down. Although the H8K was designed as a long range maritime patrol aircraft, it was used for bombing raids during the war.
(Image: www.aviation-history.com)

2. World's Largest Amphibious Aircraft

20 Dec, 2017

The Aviation Industry Corporation of China is building the world's largest amphibious aircraft, the AG600. It will be used for firefighting and marine rescue missions. The 37 meters long aircraft is similar in size to a Boeing 737. The AG600 can take off with a maximum of 53.5 tons, has a maximum cruising speed of 500 kmph, and has a range of 12 hours or 4,500 km.
(Image: Twitter/@XHNews)

3. For Business And General Aviation

20 Dec, 2017

Quest Kodiak 100 single-engine aircraft is the one Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose to fly during the recent election campaign in Gujarat. The 10-seater aircraft has a Pratt & Whitney engine, Garmin G1000 avionics, and a max range of 975 nautical miles and payload capacity of 360 lbs as a seaplane. In India, it flies between Kochi to Lakshadweep Islands as a domestic air taxi service
(Image: www.questaircraft.com)

4. Water Scooping Firefighting Aircraft

20 Dec, 2017

The Beriev Be-200 seaplane is a Russian multipurpose amphibious aircraft designed for fighting forest fires. It is fitted with flight navigation and communication equipment for better control at all flight phases including adverse weather conditions, day and night.
(Image: AP & www.beriev.com)

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In April 1941, the government bought a one-third stake in HAL by investing Rs 25 lakh. The decision was taken to boost British military hardware supplies in Asia during World War II. Post-Independence, HAL was placed under the Ministry of Defence in January 1951.

At the HAL Aerospace Museum, supervisor Sunil Kumar explains how the HT-2 Trainer was the first aircraft to be designed indigenously under the leadership of Dr VM Ghatge. Gradually, four other aircraft were developed — Pushpak, Krishak, Marut and Kiran. “Sixteen of the initial aircraft are displayed here. The museum receives about three lakh visitors annually,” Kumar said.

In October 1962, Hindustan Aircraft Limited was amalgamated with Aeronautics India Limited (AIL) that was wholly owned by the government to manufacture the MiG-21 aircraft under licence. The company was renamed as HAL.

By the 1980s, HAL had a roster of multi-million-dollar contracts from firms including Airbus, Boeing and Honeywell. A separate aerospace division was established in 1988 to focus on the requirements of the Indian Space Research Organisation.

Bugs On A Plane: Pests On AI Flight Wasn't The First; A Look At Other Times When Insects Di...

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Bugs With wings

13 Aug, 2018

By Glynda AlvesThe recent case of bed bugs being found on an Air India business class isn’t the only time that pests have been flying high. Here’s a roundup of other creepy crawlies who disrupted a smooth flight.

Cockroaches

13 Aug, 2018

You know that good feeling of finally sinking into your seat and just relaxing? Well, a New Zealand man didn’t because he was left disgusted when he saw cockroaches running around on an Air New Zealand flight. He managed to kill a few and did a show and tell for the airline staff who were reportedly just not interested in the dead bug. But they did spray the plane on landing.

Wasps

13 Aug, 2018

Wasps are a major problem for aircraft taking off from Brisbane. Plastic covers are placed over gauges to prevent wasps from building hives in the probes, which they can do in under 20 minutes. While the wasps didn’t get in this time, a Malaysia Airlines flight had to return to Brisbane because of a pre-flight inspection failure that left the plastic covers on, causing an in-flight emergency.

Fleas

13 Aug, 2018

A father of two was looking forward to a holiday in America but thanks to British Airways, he may be once bitten, twice shy. Paul Standerwick was attacked by fleas after he and his son moved seats to get a better view while the plane landing. Only after he landed was he informed that the seats were vacated due to the pests. To compensate for the passenger’s multiple bites, British Airways left the dad with a £50 voucher.

Spiders

13 Aug, 2018

A Mississippi man had a Little Miss Muffet moment when he sat down on an American Airline flight in 2016. Marcus Fleming was bitten by a reclusive brown spider, and the bite led to an infection which meant that Fleming had to have surgery or lose his thumb. The staff at American Airlines brushed off the spider bite as a mosquito bite and Fleming is now seeking $500,000 in damages.

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Over the next three decades, it started slipping on its schedules and production detail. The HAL airport was receiving 83 lakh passengers in 2007, way beyond its 36-lakh passenger capacity. In 2008, commercial airline operations were shifted to Devanahalli.

The PSU is currently manufacturing Light Combat Aircraft, Su-30MKI fighter jets and other helicopter production projects, apart from organising Aero India 2019 in February. There are, apparently, not many new orders for licenceproducing fighter aircraft. According to former HAL employee Commander Nirmal Munipella, the workforce needs some moraleboosting. “After Rafale, many employees feel that HAL has been undermined and marginalised.”

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